III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 149 

Designating the first week of April 2023 as ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness 

Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 30, 2023 

Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. DAINES, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. CARPER, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. PADILLA, Ms. WARREN, and Mr. WHITEHOUSE) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the first week of April 2023 as ‘‘National 

Asbestos Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas dangerous asbestos fibers are invisible and cannot 

be smelled or tasted; 

Whereas the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can cause 

significant damage; 

Whereas asbestos fibers can cause cancer, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other health problems; 

Whereas symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take between 10 and 50 years to present themselves; 

Whereas the projected life expectancy for an individual diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months; 


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•SRES 149 ATS 

Whereas little is known about late-stage treatment of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure for those diseases; 

Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases might 

give some patients increased treatment options and might 

improve the prognoses of those patients; 

Whereas, although the consumption of asbestos within the 

United States has been substantially reduced, the United 

States continues to consume tons of the fibrous mineral 

each year for use in certain products; 

Whereas thousands of people in the United States have died 

from asbestos-related diseases, and thousands more die 

every year from those diseases; 

Whereas, although individuals continue to be exposed to asbestos, safety measures relating to, and the prevention of, 

asbestos exposure have significantly reduced the incidence 

of asbestos-related diseases and can further reduce the 

incidence of those diseases; 

Whereas thousands of workers in the United States face significant asbestos exposure, which has been a cause of occupational cancer; 

Whereas a significant percentage of all victims of asbestosrelated diseases were exposed to asbestos on naval ships 

and in shipyards; 

Whereas asbestos was used in the construction of a significant number of office buildings and public facilities built 

before 1975; 

Whereas people in the small community of Libby, Montana, 

suffer from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, at a significantly higher rate than people in the 

United States as a whole; and 


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•SRES 149 ATS 

Whereas the designation of a ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness 

Week’’ will raise public awareness about the prevalence of 

asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the first week of April 2023 as 

3 ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’’; 

4 (2) urges the Surgeon General to warn and 

5 educate people about the public health issue of as6 bestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their 

7 health; and 

8 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

9 the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the 

10 Office of the Surgeon General. 

Æ 


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